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One in three Ohio children lives in a home where no parent has a full-time, year-round job.

The recession hit Ohio hard, and the lingering effects continue to be toughest on children. A
quarter now live in poverty, or less than $20,000 a year for a family of three.

Ohio ranks 24th among states in an annual report card on the well-being of children released
today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

In Ohio and across the nation, the Kids Count 2013 analysis shows some signs of improvement in
areas of education and health, but economic conditions have worsened. New Hampshire, Vermont and
Massachusetts rank highest overall for child well-being, while Nevada, Mississippi and New Mexico
rank lowest.

“The reality is that the bottom half has not seen the recovery yet,” said Scott Marier,
executive director of the Westerville Area Resource Ministry.

The service organization is operating six summer lunch programs, serving about 200 children a
day, while pantry usage is up about 7 percent from last year. Most live in households where a
parent has one job, sometimes two, but doesn’t earn enough or get enough hours to make ends
meet.

“It used to be those people who were affected,” Marier said. “Now it’s your brother-in-law or
your neighbor. It’s fun to see the stock market recover, but that hasn’t trickled down.”

While Ohio’s overall ranking inched up from 27th last year, the Kids Count report shows three of
four economic indicators have worsened in Ohio in recent years, which should come as little
surprise given the high rate of unemployment, home foreclosures and other economic hardships.

Still, Ohio has reduced the proportion of children without health insurance to 6 percent, down
from 7 percent in 2008. Also down are the percentage of teens who abuse drugs or alcohol and the
rate of child deaths.

Ohio got its lowest marks in assessments of children’s family environment. For instance, 37
percent of children live in single-parent households, up from 32 percent in 2005, while 1 in 10
lives in a family whose head of household lacks a high-school diploma.

“Children are our nation’s most-precious resource, as well as our future leaders, employees,
citizens and parents,” said Patrick McCarthy, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey
Foundation.

“As our economic recovery continues, we cannot lose sight of doing whatever it takes to help
kids, particularly kids in low-income households, reach their full potential — and that includes
laying a solid foundation from the moment they are born.”

Sandy Oxley, CEO of Voices for Ohio’s Children, said the report includes some encouraging
trends, particularly the drop in uninsured children. But despite the improving economy, many
children continue to live in poverty and sometimes don’t have enough to eat.

Support for health care, food and other needs for children and their parents remains
critical.

“Healthy parents go to work and that has a huge impact on families,” she said.